Bending machine



Nov. 4, Y1947.

Filed Feb. l2, 1945 T. LARSEN BENDING MACHINE v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 4,`1947.

\ T. LARSENv BENDING lMACHINE'.

Filed Feb. 12, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

Thon/@L ILL/"5672,

T'. LARsl-:N

BENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VEN TOR.

l Www/@llaman Patented Nov. 4, 1947 BENDING MACHINE Thorval Larsen,

tion of Illinois Joliet, Ill., assignor to Phoenix -ManufacturingCompany,

J olet, Ill., a corpora- Application February l2, 1945, Serial No.5775520 13 Claims.

The invention relates to bending machines and has reference Yinparticular to an improved machine for cold bending metal rods such asshort lengths of headed rods which are bent to form cold shuts.

As a preliminary operation in the manufacture of said cold shutsthemetal rods, approximatehr nve inches in length, are headed at one endand the head is perforated, providing a single opening of a diameterlarge enough to receive the rod. The machineof the invention has beendesigned for bending these headed rods into a cold shut which is usedindustr-ially .as a substitute to replace a broken link. The saidarticles may also be used as a chain hook and for similar purposes.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved machine forcold bending metal rods around a forming die to produce successively twosubstantially right angled bends in a manner which combines a rolling-and a bending action on the metal rod.

Another and more specific object is to provide a machine having animproved mode of operation for bending headed metal rods to form coldshuts and wherein the bending is performed so as to accurately maintainan aligned relation between the head and the terminal end of the rod.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for bending headedmetal rods to form cold shuts and which will perform the several bendingoperations successively, which will bend a plurality of such rods at onetime, and which machine will be relatively easy to operate andeconomical to manufacture, requiring relatively few parts of simpleconstruction.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate anembodiment of the invention andwherein like reference characters designate like parts- Figure 1 is aside elevational View, parts being shown in section, illustrating theimproved bending machine of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bending machine as shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevational View;

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing theforming die in fixed relation on its operating roll'and its positionwith respect to the grooved idle roller;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary rear ele- (o1. ssa- 27) vationalview showing the Vbending die in xed relationonitsoperating roll and itsposition with respect to the grooved idle roller;

vliigure 6 is a sectional View illustrating the position `of the variousbending elements ofthe Vpresent machine at vthe start of the bendingoperation;

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6 but showing the variousbending elements of the present machine in their position for effectingthe rst bending operation;

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view of the bending elements of thepresent machine illustrating the position of the parts at the completionof the first bending operation and at the lstart of the secondbendingoperation;

Figure 9 is a similar sectional view illustrating the position of thebending elements at the completion of the last bending operation;

Figure y10 is an elevational view of a headed rod;

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which theheaded rod is bent to form a cold shut; and

Fig, 12 is also a front elevation showing certain of the parts indifferent positions from those of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3, the presentbending machine is suitably supported by means of a table or the likehaving a supporting portion It and legs II. The upper surface of theportion il) is preferably fiat throughout its extent, the same havingsuitably secured thereto by bolts I2 the base plate i3 at the forwardend of the table and the base plate I4 at the rear of the tab-le. Spacedside frames I5 and I8 are secured at the respective sides of the baseplate I3 by bolts IA'I. A plurality of shafts are journalled by thespaced side frames I5 and `l,-two of said shafts having gearedconnection with each other, and the third comprising an idle shaft. Thegeared shafts I8 and 20 are journalled for rotation by the side framesI5 and IG, said shafts being releasably supported on the frame membersby the journal bearings 2 i. 1n a similar manner the idle shaft 22 issupported by the side frames, the bearings 23 journalling said shaft andwhich bearings are releas- `ably secured to the frames respectively.

The shafts I8 and 20 are positioned on the front and rear surfaces ofthe supporting frames, whereas idle shaft 22 is located on top of saidframes approximately on a vertical line midway between said operatingshafts.

Shaft I8 is provided with gear 24,

whereas shaft 26 is provided with gear 25, both being suitably keyed totheir respective shafts and rotating therewith. The roll 26 is alsosuitably keyed to shaft 8 and the diameter of said roll is such that thecircumference of the roll coincides with the pitch circle of the gear24. A similar roll 21 is keyed to shaft 26 and the circumference of thesame also coincides with the pitch circle of its respective gear 25, itbeing understood that gears 24 and 25 are equal in size and thereforeboth rolls rotate in unison and to an equal extent.

The shaft 22 supports an idler roller 28 which is provided with aplurality of grooves 36, the said roller rotating freely since it is notconnected with the operating shafts I8 and 20. The function of thegrooves 30 wil] be presently described in connection with the firstbending operation.

Referring to Figures 4, and 6, it will be observed that the periphery ofroll 26 is smooth, whereas, roll 21 is provided with a plurality ofgrooves 3l which extend around said roll for the entire extent of itsuninterrupted surface and which are in alignment with grooves 36 on theidle roller 28. rlhe function of said grooves 3| will be explained inconnection with the last bending operation performed by the presentapparatus.

The roll 26, which may be termed the first operating roll, provides acarrier for the forming die 32, said forming'die 32 having a baseportion 33 by means of which the die is releasably secured to the roll.It will be observed that a notch is formed in the roll, providing anopening for receiving the base portion 33, the said portion beingreleasably secured by means of screws 34. The first operating roll alsofunctions as a carrier for the headed rods 35 which are positioned in aslot 36 provided by the roll. Said slot is located in advance of formingdie 32, considering the direction of rotation of the roll ascounterclookwise for effecting a bending operation, The forming die 32extends longitudinally of roll 26 for the full length thereof and saiddie is provided with a rounded front edge 31 and with a rounded rearedge 36. The rst bending operation takes place around front edge 31 andthe second bending operation is performed around the rear edge 38. Itwill be observed that the arcuate curvature of edge 31 has a largerradius than that of 38 and accordingly the first bend formed in theheaded rod 35 is greater than the second bend formed in said rod.

The second operating roll 21 is cut away in a manner similar to roll 26and a bending die 46 is xed to said roll 21 in the cut-away portion,being releasably secured by means of screws 4|. The bending die 46extends longitudinally of its roll 21 for the full length thereof and inorder to perform its bending action said die extends outwardly beyondthe periphery of its roll, having a projecting pointed end 42.

The end of shaft 2U opposite gear 25, Figure 2, extends some distancebeyond side frame I6, said projecting end receiving the lever 43 whichis suitably keyed thereto. The link 44 operatively connects the lever 43with lever 45, lever 45 being suitably keyed to shaft 46 which extendstransversely of the base plate |4. Bearings 41 serve to journal shaft46, said bearings being releasably secured to base plate I4 by bolts 48.Substantially midway of the length of shaft 46 and between bearings 41the said shaft is provided with an operating lever 50. It will beobserved that rocking of this lever will rotate shaft 4,6 and.

through levers 45 and 43 similar rotary movement will be imparted toshafts 20 and I3 and to the respective rolls 21 and 26 fixed to saidshafts.

Any preferred form of power may be employed for oscillating shaft 46. Asillustrated in the present drawings an air cylinder 5| is employedhaving suitable connections with a source of air under pressure, which,when admitted to the rear end of cylinder 5|, will cause outwardmovement in a forward direction of piston rod 52, By admitting said airunder pressure to the front end of the cylinder the piston rod 52 may bereturned to its initial position. The forward end of piston rod 52 isbifurcated for receiving the operating lever 56 which is releasablyconnected thereto by the pivot pin 53. Bracket 54 projects from the rearend of cylinder 5| and said bracket is likewise bifurcated for receivingthe projection 55 of the support 56. A pivot pin '51 releasably andpivotally joins the parts so that bodily movement of cylinder 5| ispossible. The right angled bracket 58 forms part of the support 56 andfunctions to back up said support to absorb the rearward thrust from thecylinder 5|. Bolts 59 suitably secure the right angled bracket 56 to thebase plate I4.

A guard identified by numeral 60 has enclosing relation with the gears24 and 25. The rolls 26 and 21 as well as the idle roller 28 are coveredat least partially by a top cover plate having a front sloping apron 6|and a rear sloping apron 62. The cover plate between said aprons isprovided with a fiat supporting area 63 having upstanding side and rearwalls 64 and 65, respectively. The flat supporting area, bounded by theside and rear walls, provides an auxiliary supporting surface for aplurality of headed rods 35 which are thus conveniently positioned infront of the operator for feeding to the machine.

In advance of a bending operation the headed rods from the auxiliarysupport 63 are placed in the slots 66 formed in apron 6|. The slottedportion of said apron is located directly over the slot 36 when the roll26 is positioned as shown in Figure 6. The rolls 26 and 21 assume thepositions as shown in Figure 6 at the start of a bending operation. Theheaded rods 35 are thus simultaneously located in the slot 36, withtheir headed end in down position, and in one of the slots 66 providedin the apron 6|, which last mentioned slot functions to align the rodwith a groove 36 formed in the idle roller 26, which, as previouslyexplained, is in alignment with a groove 3| in the roll 2l'. Theapparatus is now ready to perform a bending operation on the headed rods35 to bend them into the form shown in Figure 11.

By admitting compressed air or other fluid under pressure to the rearend of the cylinder 5| the piston rod 52 will =be moved outwardly in aforward direction, rotating shaft 46, which rotation is transmitted bythe connecting links and levers to the operating rolls 26 and 21.Attention is directed to the first operating roll 26 which carries therods 35 in a fixed relation with respect to the forming die 32. Roll 26is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, it beingunderstood, of course that roll 21 therefore rotates in a clockwisedirection. The initial rotation of roll 26 will bring the ends of therods 35 which project above the slot 36 into contact with roller 28.Since the function of the slots 66 is to align the rods 35 with thegrooves 30 in said .idle roller, the projecting end of each in desiredalignment and 4.idle roller and this intertting relation continues`until the rods are brought into association with the grooves 3lprovided by the roll 21. The grooves therefore function to maintain the.rods

initial positioning of the rods is maintained until both bendingoperations are completed.

The second bending operation on the rods 3.5 is initiated as the rodsare presented to grooves 3l in the roll 21. By referring to Figure 8, itwill .320

be seen that this action is about to take place. The projecting end 42of the bending die 4U has just made contact with the terminal end of thevrod 35 and continued movement of the rolls -26 and 21 will result inthe die 4B bending the terminal end of the rod 35 around the rear edge38 of the forming die.

At the completion of the bending operation .the rotation of the rolls 26and 21 is terminated. The piston rod 52 will have reached its limit oftravel in a forward direction and accordingly the operator releases airfrom the rearof the cylinder and admits air under pressure at theforward end of the cylinder. This produces rearward travel of the pistonrod and the rolls are thus rotated in direction to return them to theirinitial Figure 6. The rods 435 will all the rods It therefore a reverseposition as shown Vin be retained by the forming die 32, having beenbent around said die. becomes necessary to remove the die and for thispurpose the invention .provides an ejector 68 xed to the rod 1i!suitably supported for reciprocating movement by the bearing .members 1|secured to the side frames `I 5 and. i6. The rod 10 is provided with anactuating handle 12 at its right hand end, as shown in Figure 3, and theoperator grasps said handle to eiect reciprocation of the ejector 33.Theejector 6B is in alignment with the forming die 32 when said die ispositioned as shown in Figure 6. The ejector is also provided with acut-away portion approximating the shape of said forming die in crosssection, being somewhat larger than the die, and upon reciprocatingmovement ofrod 1l) it will be understood that the ejector is caused totelescope the forming die, thereby positively pushing from the die thebent rods having supporting relation thereon. Movement of the ejector 68in a direction toward the left, as shown in Figure 3, will have theeffect of sweeping the forming `die 32 clean of the cold shuts, and theapparatus is thus placed in condition for another operation, whichrequires the location of headed rods in groove 36, and which areautomatically aligned by positioning a slot 66 provided for the purposeby the apron-6|.

The completed cold shut produced by the bending machine of the inventionis shown in Figure 1l, the same having a head 15 which is provided withan opening 15. The rst bending operation performed by the apparatusproduces the large bend 11 having the radius identified byR1. The shankof the rod is bent over the front edge '31 of the forming die to formthis bend asxpreviously explained, and it will be observed that 'theVangle it will be Yseen that the the bent rods `from the upstanding endof each rod in 1 4a second bend in the articles by further formedthereby :is .somewhat less `than .a right angle. The first operating.roll 2B :and the .idle roller 28 constituteA the bendinginstrumentalities for this first operation. VThe second bend isidentified bynumeral `18, the same having `a radius R2. This second bendissomewhat smaller than the first since the same is produced by the rearyedge 138 of the forming die. For producing this `second bend the .firstoperating roll actsas a car- .rier 'for the rods 35 .and which are bentover edge .38 by the .bending die4ll actuated and carried by Athesecondoperating roll .21. The two rolls `therezfore function in a .conjoint:manner to produce this secondlbend'in the coldshuts.

.'Ihe invention .is not to Vbe limited to orby details `of .constructionofthe particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, asvarious other v.forms of the device will of 'Course be apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe vscope of the claims.

What .is claimed is:

1. In a bending machine, in combinatioma rst operating roll providing acarrier for the articles to be bent, a forming die secured to said roll,means'positioned with `respect to the first operating roll for initiallybending the articles over the forming die, a second operating roll, anda bendling diesecured thereto for forming a second bend `in the articlesby further bending them over the formingdie.

.2. Ina bending machinepin combination, a first operating roll providinga carrier forthe articles to be bent, a forming die secured to saidroll, Va `second operating rollgmeans operatively connect- ,ing therolls whereby they .rotate uniformly in op- .posite directions, a rollerpositioned with respect to the first operatingroll for initiallybendingthe articles v.over the .forming die, and a vbending die carried by thesecond operating roll for forming bending them over the forming die.

3. In a bending machine, in combination, a first `operating rollproviding a carrier for the articles -to be bent, Aa forming die securedto said roll, means positioned withrespect tothe rst operating roll for.initially bending the articles over the Avforming die, a secondoperating roll, a bending die secured thereto ,for forming asecond bendin the articles by further bending them over the forming die, and `meansfor stripping the articles .from `the `forming die lfollowing thecompletion Yof a bending operation.

4. In a bending machine, in combination, arst operating roll providing acarrier for the articles to be bent, a .forming die secured to saidroll, a second operating roll, means operatively connecting the rollswhereby they rotate uniformly in opposite directions, a rollerpositioned with re- 'spect to the vfirst operating roll for initiallybending the articles .over the forming die, a bending die carried bvithesecond operating roll for formning a second bendin the articlesbyfurther bending them over the forming die, .and means for :stripping thearticlesfrom the forming die followiing the completion of a bendingoperation.

l 5. In a'bendingmachine, in combination, a'rst operating roll, aforming die releasably xed to Vsaid roll and having a front bending edgeand-1a rear bending edge, said roll .providing a slot ad- ,jacent thefront bending edge of the die for receiving Yarticles to `be bent, saidslot .having 4a depth whereby said articles `are positioned with ,theirouter ends projecting beyond `the forming die, a roller positioned withrespect to the first tation on an axis parallel operating roll forinitially bending the projecting ends of said articles over the frontedge of the forming die, a second operating roll, and a bending diesecured thereto for forming a second bend in the articles by furtherbending the projecting ends thereof over the rear edge of the formingdie.

6. In a bending machine, in combination, a first operating roll, aforming die releasably xed to said roll and having a front bending edgeand a rear bending edge, said roll providing a slot adjacent the frontbending edge of the die for receiving articles to be bent, said slothaving a depth whereby said articles are positioned with their outerends projecting beyond the forming die, a roller positioned with respectto the rst operating roll for initially bending the projecting ends ofsaid articles over the front edge of the forming die, a second operatingroll, means operatively connecting the rolls whereby they rotateuniformly in opposite directions, and a bending die secured to thesecond operating roll for forming a second bend in the articles byfurther bending the projecting ends thereof over the rear edge of theforming die.

7. In a bending machine, in combination, a rst operating roll, a formingdie releasably fixed to said roll and having a front bending edge and arear bending edge, said roll providing a slot adjacent the front bendingedge of the die for receiving articles to be bent, said slot having adepth whereby said articles are positioned with their outer endsprojecting beyond the forming die, a roller positioned with respect tothe first operating roll for initially bending the projecting ends ofsaid articles over the front edge of the forming die, a second operatingroll, a bending die secured thereto for forming a second bend in thearticles by further bending the projecting ends thereof over the rearedge of the forming die, and means for stripping the articles from theforming die following the completion of a bending operation.

i8. In a bending machine, in combination, a first and second operatingroll mounted for rotation on substantially parallel axes in associatedrelation with each other, means operatively connecting the rolls wherebythey rotate uniformly in opposite directions, a roller spaced from saidoperating roll and mounted for free rotation on an axis parallel to saidrolls, a forming die secured to said first operating roll, a bending diesecured to said second operating roll, and a plurality of grooves formedin the periphery of said roller and said second operating rollrespectively, the grooves in the roller having alignment with thegrooves in the second operating roll.

9. In a bending machine, in combination, first and second operatingrolls journalled for rotation on substantially parallel axes, meansoperatively connecting the rolls whereby they rotate uniformly and inopposite directions, a forming die fixed to the rst operating roll andhaving a front bending edge and a rear bending edge, said rst operatingroll providing a slot adjacent the front bending edge of the forming diefor receiving articles to be bent and which are supported with theirfree ends projecting beyond the forming die, a bending die fixed to thesecond operating rolls to project beyond the periphery of said roll, anda roller journalled for free roto said rolls and positioned in spacedrelation with respect to the lst operating roll.

10. In a bending machine, in combination, first and second operatingrolls having approximately equal diameters, means journalling said rollsfor rotation on parallel axes with their peripheries in approximatecontact, means operatively connecting the rolls whereby they rotateuniformly and in opposite directions, a forming die xed to the firstoperating roll and having a front bending edge and a rear bending edgeboth located within the periphery of said roll, said roll providing aslot adjacent the front bending edge of the forming die for receivingarticles to be bent and which are supported with their free endsprojecting beyond the forming die, a bending die xed to the secondoperating roll and having an end projecting beyond the periphery of saidroll, a roller journalled for free rotation on an axis parallel to saidrolls and positioned in spaced relation with respect to the rstoperating roll, and power means for oscillating said operating rolls,whereby said rolls have rotation during a bending operation from aloading position where said slot in the first operating roll issubstantially vertical to a terminal position where the projecting endof the bending die is located adjacent lbut in spaced relation to therear bending edge of the forming die.

11. In a bending machine, in combination, a forming die having a frontbending edge and a rear bending edge, a carrier for said die comprisinga rst operating roll having the die fixed thereto for movement in anarcuate path as a result of oscillating movement of the roll, said rollproviding a slot adjacent the front edge of the forming die forreceiving articles to be bent and having a depth to cause the free endof said articles to project beyond the forming die, a bending elementcomprising a roller positioned substantially parallel with the aXis ofsaid rst operating roll and in the path of the projecting ends of Saidarticles, whereby said projecting ends are bent over the front edge ofthe forming die when said operating roll has movement in its arcuatepath, a bending die, a carrier for said bending die comprising a secondoperating roll having the die fixed thereto with a free end projectingbeyond the periphery of the roll, means journalling said rst and secondoperating rolls in associated relation so that said projecting end ofthe bending die has movement in an arcuate path which intersects thearcuate path of said forming die, whereby said bending die has conjointaction With the forming die to further bend the projecting ends of saidarticles over the rear edge of the forming die, means operativelyconnecting said rolls to cause rotation thereof uniformly and inopposite directions, and power means for oscillating said operatingrolls to effect movement of the forming and bending dies in theirrespective arcuate paths.

12. A bending machine as defined by claim 11 additionally includingstripping means for stripping the bent articles from the forming die atthe completion of a bending operation, and wherein said roller andsecond operating roll are formed with aligned grooves for maintainingcontrol of said articles during movement thereof from the first bendingoperation to the second bending operation.

13. In a bending machine, in combination. a rst and second operatingroll mounted for rotation on substantially parallel axes in associatedrelation with each other, means operatively connecting the rolls wherebythey rotate uniformly in opposite directions, a roller spaced from saidfirst operating roll and mounted for rotation on an axis parallel withsaid rolls, a forming die secured to the said rst operating roll, saidforniing die being included Within the periphery of the roll and havinga front bending edge and a rear bending edge, said rst operating rollproviding a slot adjacent the front edge of said forming die forreceiving articles to be bent so that they project beyond the formingdie, a bending die secured to the second operating roll and having afree end projecting beyond the periphery thereof, a plurality of groovesformed in the periphery of said roller and said second oper-ating rollrespectively, the grooves in the roller having alignment/With thegrooves in the second operat- 10 ing roll, and a slotted apron having axed position over the rst operating roll for initially aligning thearticles When inserted in the slot in said roll, the slots in said apronhaving an aligned relation with the grooves.

THORVAL LARSEN,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,687 Haskins Feb. 18, 1896693,325 Leiger Feb. ll, 1902

